Combination lock

ABSTRACT

A combination lock having a pair of spaced fixed guides, each fixed guide having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable between the fixed guides and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section capable of aligning with those on the fixed guides and a plurality of combination pins in the guideways of the fixed guides, each combination pin having at a particular position conforming to the combination a transverse notch to permit the bolt to operate. In one embodiment the combination pins are spring biased and adjusted to set the combination. In another embodiment the bolt may be longitudinally separated into two parts temporarily discarding part of the combination, or the two parts of the bolt can be interconnected to require that both combinations operate. In another variant of the invention the lock is capable of being opened by a master combination or an individual combination.

United States Patent John Charles Wlndle RD. #1 Box 21-1. Honebrook. Pa. 19344 [21] Appl. No. 878,360

[22] Filed Nov. 20, I969 [45] Patented June 22, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] COMBINATION LOCK 12 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.5. CI 70/298, 70/316. 70/323, 70/443 [51] Int. Cl E0515 37/16 [50] Field of Search 70/293,

3,408,835 11/1968 Bauer Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, .lr. Attorney-Jackson, Jackson and Chovanes ABSTRACT: A combination lock having a pair of spaced fixed guides, each fixed guide having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable between the fixed guides and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section capable of aligning with those on the fixed guides and a plurality of combination pins in the guideways of the fixed guides, each combination pin having at a particular position conforming to the combination a transverse notch to permit the bolt to operate. In one embodiment the combination pins are spring biased and adjusted to set the combination. In another embodiment the bolt may be longitudinally separated into two parts temporarily discarding part of the combination, or the two parts of the bolt can be interconnected to require that both combinations operate. In another variant of the invention the lock is capable of being opened by a master combination or an individual combination.

pmmrenmzam 3585.825

SHEET 1 SF 3 INVENTOR JOHN CHARLES WlN W my 68 ATTORNEYS OLE PATENTED JUNZ 2 l97l SHEET 2 BF 3 0R INDLE ATTORNEYS INVENT JOHN CHARLES W PATENIEII JUIIP? I97;

I II/Wii 84 I IIZI/I/l/II/I 9| I. II HTIIII INVENTOR. JOHN CHARLES WINDLE TTORN EYS.

COMBINATION LOCK DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in combination locks.

A purpose of the invention is to prevent picking a combination lock by jiggling to see what combination pins are obstructing.

A further purpose is to make the cross sections of the fixed guideways, the grooves in the bolt and the combination pins triangular with the inclined engaging surfaces directed forwardly and backwardly, so that all combination pins will be well restrained against vibrating when the lock is jiggled, and so that close fits can be readily obtained.

A further purpose is to permit the use of standard notched combination pins in a lock, with adjustments to locate the notches and springs to make the pins achieve a normal locking position.

A further purpose is to permit the bolt to be separated at a joint along its length so that a combination operative on only the forward part can work the lock, or to permit the two parts of the bolt to be fastened together so that a more extensive combination must be used.

A further purpose is to separate the parts of the bolt so that a master combination or an individual combination can be used.

Further purposes are expressed in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate a few only of the embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIG. 1 is top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the lock of the inventor, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 5, the outer housing having broken away.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIG. I, the outer housing being broken away.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, with the outer housing broken away.

FIG. 5 is a front end elevation of the lock of FIG. 1, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of FIG. I, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. 8 is a vertical transverse section on the line 8-8 of FIG. I, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal plan section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 5, with the outer housing broken away.

FIG. I0 is a fragmentary exploded perspective of the operating parts of the lock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective of the assembled lock of FIG. I, omitting the outer housing.

FIG. I2 is a fragmentary sectional perspective of a variation in pin construction showing a single pin.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective of a modification in bolt construction.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a further modification in the bolt.

FIG. 15 is a section of FIG. 14 on the line 15-15.

In combination locks an experienced burglar has been able to locate the combination pin or pins which are obstructing and so concentrate his attention on them to pick the lock by jiggling. In the present invention each combination pin is held by a cam or wedge action against its sides in a V-slot of a guide, so as to minimize the likelihood that the obstructing pins may vibrate. The V-slots in the guides and the V-cross sections of the combination pins can be machined readily to a high degree of accuracy.

The bolt is slotted longitudinally and guided down the center to guard against play in the bolt which might make obstructing pins vibrate. This facilitates the use of a double set of combination pins, one on either side of the bolt.

Considering the preferred form of FIGS. 1 to 11 of the drawings, an outer housing 30 having a back and suitable rectangular sides and an open front end, surrounds an inner housing 31 to be described. Within the inner housing and best seen in FIG. 10 are parallel spaced guides 32 each of which has longitudinally spaced V-slot guideways 33, each having a peak 35 near the center and wedge or cam walls 34 toward the rear and wedge walls 36 toward the front. The guides 32 are arranged in pairs with their V-slots in line. All four guides 32 are fastened two on each side of a longitudinal guide plate 36. The guides 32 and the guide plate 36 between them are anchored to the inner housing by screws 37 (FIG. 11). The guides desirability include wear resisting inserts 38 which may be brazed or otherwise secured in place.

A longitudinally movable bolt 40 has a bolt head 41 FIGS. 5 and 10) which extends through a rectangular slot 42 in the forward end of the inner housing 31. The bolt has a longitudinal slot 43 (F IG 10) which extends from the rear toward the forward end and guides on guideplate 36.

At both the top and bottom in line with the guide slots, there are V-slots 44 with peaks or slight flats 45, toward the center and sloping sides 46. The outer ends of the peaks of the projections between the grooves are cut off at 47 to pass the connecting portions of the combination pins.

Screws 48 pass through holes 50 in the bolt (FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 10) and slots 51 in one of the guides 32, so as to mount a bolt-moving handle 53 (FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 11) on the front of the lock. A longitudinal slot (not shown) is provided in the outer housing for movement at the handle 53.

Combination pins 54 in two sets extend across the bolt and ride in the V-slots of the guides 32v These have portions of triangular cross section toward the middle and rectangular extensions toward the inner housing accurately filling the space available with a minimum of play, but permitting sliding, as the combination pins are shorter that the width of the inner housing as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 10, and 11. At different points on different pins depending on the combination there are cross notches 55 which allow the bolt to move when the combination pin is adjusted properly. There is a cross connecting portion 56 of the combination pin which does not interfere with the bolt. On the end of the combination pins are pin handles 57 threaded into the ends and passing through holes 58 in the inner housing and a slot (not shown) in the outer housing.

In the inner housing rear end wall 60 is secured as by brazing to one of the sides. Screws 37 support the guides 32 from the inner housing front and back walls 61 and 62. The guide plate 36 is then'slid into place between the guides 32 and against the back wall 60. Next the front plate 63, having fastened to it as by brazing anchor blocks 64, is located at the front of the inner housing and tension rods 65 are threading into the anchor blocks and extend longitudinally through openings in the guides and through openings in the back plate 60, being held by nuts 66.

Combination pins 54 with their handles removed are sorted to give one half of the desired combination, placed in the grooves of the upper guides as shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, and the handles 57 extended through the openings in the side plate 61 and threaded into the ends of the combination pins 54. If preferred, the handles 57 can be inserted after the outer housing has been applied. Then one of the cover plates 67 is secured by screws 70 to corner blocks 68 and the cover plate and the blocks are placed so that the cover plate closely confines the tops of the combination pins 54. Holding the parts in this position as by clamps, the lock is inverted and combination pins 54 are inserted in the correct order to make the other half of the combination, the handles 57 are inserted, and the opposite cover plate 67 is applied, and fastened by screws 70 to the other ends of blocks 68.

It will be evident that the combination pins 54 may be numbered, or the different pin handles 57 may be colored different colors. The individual pins in the form shown have three positions, any one of which may be the position for unlocking, but the lock can be designed with two positions, four positions, etc., per pin as desired.

Next the outer housing is slid on from the rear over the rear and sides of the inner housing, like a sleeve. This consists of a rear wall 73 (which may be of double thickness as shown, united as by brazing on the inside to a center block 72, and having side and top walls 73 (broken away in the drawing) slotted to pass the bolt handle 53 and the pin handles 57. When the outer housing is in place, it is fastened through holes in the back wall 60 of the inner housing by screws 74 inserted into the block 72, operating through the space normally occupied by the bolt.

With the combination pins set for opening the lock, then the bolt 410 is slid in from the front end, guided by its slot 43 on the guideplate 36. With the bolt pushed to its rear position, and its head 41 in the slot 412 of the front plate, the bolts 418 are fastened through the handle 53.

Thus even if the lock could be removed from the door, it is necessary to know the combination in order to remove the bolt in order to remove the screws 74 to take off the outer housing before the inner housing can be disassembled to observe the combination.

lln the variation shown in H0. 112 each combination pin 54' has a notch 55 which is at the same location along the length of each pin. The handle 57' on each pin is threaded throughout its length, except at the head end, and extends through threaded opening in the combination pin so that it is adjustable along the pin to set the combination. The handle is locked in adjusted position by nuts 811 and 02. At the inner end the handle is guided by a guide opening 83 in a block 04. The handle passes through an opening 85 in an inner plate 06, and helical compression springs 87 and 00 surrounding the handle tend to restore the pin to midposition. Spring 87 acts between block 043 at one end and a spring abutment 90 and on the pin, and spring 08 acts between spring abutment 90 and the plate 86. A stop 90 prevents pulling out the pin too far. The adjustment of the spring abutment 90 and stop 91 permits all handles to protrude the same distance in inactive position.

in FIG. 13 the bolt 410' is divided toward the back to provide a detachable bolt section 9 2 which can be fastened to the main bolt section 93 by a screw 94 on the bolt section 92, engaging in a screw opening 05 on the bolt section 93.

A slot must be provided in the guides and the housing for the screw W1. The screw 9d acts from inside the locked door, and permits the owner to render part of the combination inoperative. This is accomplished by releasing screw 941 from the main bolt section 93, setting the combination related to bolt section 02 and shifting this latter section to its unlocked location by screw S941, and locking it in this location by unsetting the related combination. He then can give the portion of the combination necessary to release the bolt section 93 to a friend or employee without preventing the possibility that on certain occasions he can connect the parts of the bolt together again and prevent operation without knowledge of the full combination.

The bolt sections 92 and 93 are formed with additional screw accommodating means whereby they may be more permanently joined in the event that this readily detachable feature is not desired. FIGS. 141 and t5 show a modified bolt construction which permits opening the locks with a master combination. A bolt 40 consists of a bolt section 96 extending the full length and having the bolt head 4111 thereon. lt is urged forward by a helical compression spring 97 acting around a spring guide 98 from a spring abutment 1100.

Bolt section 90 is slidable within a forward bolt section 1102, carrying grooves in which the combination pins move and a rearward bolt section 1103, carrying grooves in which combination pins move. Each of these bolt sections 102 and R03 has screws 110d or 1105 which ride in a slot T106 or 107 in the bolt section [96, and which pass through slots in the guides 32 and the inner and outer housings connecting to separate outer handles (not shown) for manipulating the bolt sections 1102 and 1103.

Thus separate combinations control the bolt section 102, for example an individual lock combination, and the bolt section 1103, which has a master combination. With bolt section 96 locked by action of spring 97, bolt section 102 and 1103 must be forward and locked. Now by reason of the slots K06 and 107, the bolt can be thrown to unlock it either by the individual combination permitting retracting bolt section H02 and throwing bolt section 96 by screws 10 5, or by the master combination permitting retracting bolt section 1103 and throwing bolt section 96 by screws 105. In order to lock bolt section 96, both bolt sections 1102 and 103 must be thrown forward. Bolt sections 1102 and 1103 can thus act independently by reason of clearance 108 between them.

One advantage of a combination lock of the invention is that in an emergency the combination can be given by telephone.

in view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claim.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. in a combination lock, a housing, fixed guides within the housing in spaced relation to one another, forming a passage, each guide having a series of opposed guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable in the passage between the guides, extending through an opening in the housing and having distributed along it, in line with the triangular guideways, a plurality of slots of triangular cross section and intermediate projections between said slots, a plurality of combination pins of generally triangular cross section extending across in the guideways in the fixed guides, accessible outside the casing, and having in at least one longitudinally displaced position cooperating notches which permit the projections on the bolt to pass therethrough to permit longitudinal change in the position of the bolt, and means for throwing the bolt.

2. A lock of claim 11, in which the housing includes pressure plates which engage the combination pins and urge them intofirm engagement with the triangular guideways in the fixed guides.

3. A lock of claim 11, in which the projections on the bolt between the slots are of truncated triangular form.

4. A lock of claim 1, in which the bolt is longitudinally divided, in combination with a guide plate extending through the longitudinal division in the bolt and guiding the same, the fixed guides having in each case opposite counterpart sets of guideways on opposite faces, the bolt having opposite counterpart sets of slots and projections on opposite sides of the guide plate, and there being combination pins in each set of guideways on opposite faces of the fixed guides.

5. A combination lock comprising an outer housing, an inner housing within the outer housing, a pair of spaced fixed guides within the inner housing, the fixed guides having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable in the space between the fixed guides having a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots of triangular cross section which in different positions align with the guideways, there being projections between the slots, a handle for operating the bolt accessible on the outside of the outer housing, a plurality of combination pins of triangular cross section, accessible outside the outer housing, slidable in the guideways of the fixed guides, each combination pin having at at least one position a notch which passes the projections between the slots on the bolts, the combination pins being firmly engaged and held in position by the inner housing, means accessible on withdrawing the bolt for releasing the outer housing and means accessible after removing the outer housing for removing the inner housing.

6. A combination lock of claim 5, in which the bolt is longitudinally divided, a guide plate extending through the division in the bolt, and the guideways on the fixed guides, the slots and projections on the bolt and the combination pins being present on both sides of the guide plate and of the bolt, it being necessary in order to release the bolt to dispose the combination pins in correct positions on both sides of the bolt.

7. A combination lock of claim 5, in which the bolt can be locked in both retracted and locked position.

8. In a combination lock, a plurality of pin guides arranged longitudinally, pins extending across the guides and having notches at a uniform position, pin handles extending from the pins, adjustable means for changing the position of the pin handles with respect to the pins to set the combination, and a bolt operating longitudinally of the guides, having projections which interfere with the pins except when the pin notches are in position to free the bolt.

9. A lock of claim 8, and spring means biasing the pins to a predetermined position.

10. A lock of claim 8, in which the spring means is double acting.

11. A combination lock having guides distributed longitudinally, combination pins in the guides having notches to pass a bolt, a bolt extending longitudinally and having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches, and means for disconnecting two parts of the bolt having projections to limit the operative pins of the combination.

12. A combination lock having pin guides distributed longitudinally, combination pins in the guides having notches to pass a bolt, a first slidable bolt section carrying a bolt head, means for resiliently urging the first bolt section to locking position, a second slidable bolt section adjacent the first bolt section at a forward position and having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches, lost motion connection means between the first bolt section and the second bolt section for retracting the bolt head when the second bolt section is unlocked and retracted, a third slidable bolt section adjacent the first bolt section at a rearward position and having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches and lost motion connection means between the first bolt section and the third bolt section for retracting the bolt head when the third bolt section is unlocked and retracted. 

1. In a combination lock, a housing, fixed guides within the housing in spaced relation to one another, forming a passage, each guide having a series of opposed guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable in the passage between the guides, extending through an opening in the housing and having distributed along it, in line with the triangular guideways, a plurality of slots of triangular cross section and intermediate projections between said slots, a plurality of combination pins of generally triangular cross section extending across in the guideways in the fixed guides, accessible outside the casing, and having in at least one longitudinally displaced position cooperating notches which permit the projections on the bolt to pass therethrough to permit longitudinal change in the position of the bolt, and means for throwing the bolt.
 2. A lock of claim 1, in which the housing includes pressure plates which engage the combination pins and urge them into firm engagement with the triangular guideways in the fixed guides.
 3. A lock of claim 1, in which the projections on the bolt between the slots are of truncated triangular form.
 4. A lock of claim 1, in which the bolt is longitudinally divided, in combination with a guide plate extending through the longitudinal division in the bolt and guiding the same, the fixed guides having in each case opposite counterpart sets of guideways on opposite faces, the bolt having opposite counterpart sets of slots and projections on opposite sides of the guide plate, and there being combination pins in each set of guideways on opposite faces of the fixed guides.
 5. A combination lock comprising an outer housing, an inner housing within the outer housing, a pair of spaced fixed guides within the inner housing, the fixed guides having a plurality of longitudinally spaced guideways of triangular cross section, a bolt slidable in the space between the fixed guides having a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots of triangular cross section which in different positions align with the guideways, there being projections between the slots, a handle for operating the bolt accessible on the outside of the outer housing, a plurality of combination pins of triangular cross section, accessible outside the outer housing, slidable in the guideways of the fixed guides, each combination pin having at at least one position a notch which passes the projections between the slots on the bolts, the combination pins being firmly engaged and held in position by the inner housing, means accessible on withdrawing the bolt for releasing the outer housing and means accessible after removing the outer housing for removing the inner housing.
 6. A combination lock of claim 5, in which the bolt is longitudinally divided, a guide plate extending through the division in the bolt, and the guideways on the fixed guides, the slots and projections on the bolt and the combination pins being present on both sides of the guide plate and of the bolt, it being necessary in order to release the bolt to dispose the combination pins in correct positions on both sides of the bolt.
 7. A combination lock of claim 5, in which the bolt can be locked in both retracted and locked position.
 8. In a combination lock, a plurality of pin guides arranged longitudinally, pins extending across the guides and having notches at a uniform position, pin handles extending from the pins, adjustable means for changing the position of the pin handles with respect to the pins to set the combination, and a bolt operating longitudinally of the guides, having projections which interfere with the pins except when the pin notches are in position to free the bolt.
 9. A lock of claim 8, and spring means biasing the pins to a predetermined position.
 10. A lock of claim 8, in which the spring means is double acting.
 11. A combination lock having guides distributed longitudinally, combination pins in the guides having notches to pass a bolt, a bolt extending longitudinally and having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches, and means for disconnecting two parts of the bolt having projections to limit the operative pins of the combination.
 12. A combination lock having pin guides distributed longitudinally, combination pins in the guides having notches to pass a bolt, a first slidable bolt section carrying a bolt head, means for resiliently urging the first bolt section to locking position, a second slidable bolt section adjacent the first bolt section at a forward position and having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches, lost motion connection means between the first bolt section and the second bolt section for retracting the bolt head when the second bolt section is unlocked and retracted, a third slidable bolt section adjacent the first bolt section at a rearward position and Having projections which interfere with the pins except at the notches and lost motion connection means between the first bolt section and the third bolt section for retracting the bolt head when the third bolt section is unlocked and retracted. 